Flat piece laundry rack



April 27, 1954 M. A. POCOCK 2,676,424

FLAT PIECE'LAUNDRY RACK Filed May 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l mmvroza. a lrz azzA. P0600? April 7, 1954 M. A. POCOCK 2,676,424

FLAT PIECE LAUNDRY RACK Filed May 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z4 9 Z? 0' Z0 ZZ Z/ /7 ////A N R 5 2 1 VENTO 3 5i /Z &Z &/&A.P06ZM l 5 *r BY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,676,424 FLAT PIECE LAUNDRY RACK Merton A. Pocock, Minneapolis, Minn. Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,265 2 Claims. (c1. 38-143) My invention relates to racks for laundry fiat pieces and is in the nature of an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Patent 1,836,938.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described wherein forward swinging movements of the drop arms are definitely limited.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for applying frictional braking action to the drop arms.

A still further object of my invention is the above described which is simple in construction,

produce, easy to adjust, and extremely durable in use.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in plan taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view section and partly in elevation 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a view in side elevation of my novel structure; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral I indicates in its entirety a frame made up of a pair of generally H-shaped laterally spaced side frame members 2 which are joined together adjacent their lower end portions by tie rods .3 and adjacent their upper end portions by tie rods 4. Depending legs 5 are rendered mobile on floor X by means of casters 6. Projecting upwardly from the rear end portions of the frame members 2, preferably and as shown above the transverse connecting members 1, are legs 8. Opposed trunnions 9 of a Windlass, identifled in its entirety by the numeral II and including a pair of diametrically opposed parallel pipes I2 non-rotatably mounted in opposite end portions of a pair of arms I3, are journalled for rotation on a horizontal plane in the upper end portions of the legs 8. As shown, the arms I3 ar rigidly connected at their centers to the trunnions 9. As shown in Fig. 4, the spaced members I2 afford supporting members for flat pieces A being fed thereonto by the operator as they come from flat piece spreaders and the like.

Projecting upwardly from the forward portion of the frame I are legs I4 which, at their upper in front elevation of my novel partly in vertical taken on the line j end portions, define upwardly opening sockets I5 for the reception of the stem portions I6 of a pair of opposed bearings I1. A pair of drop arms I9 each has a laterally projecting horizontal trunnion 2U receivable in the aligned openings 2| of the bearings H. An inner connecting rod 22 connects the axial portions of the drop arms I9, whereas connecting rod 23 connects the radially offset free end portions of said arms I9.

As shown, friction washers 24 are interposed between the bearings I1 and the adjacent surfaces of the drop arms I9. For the purpose of varying the frictional relationship between the drop arms I9 and the bearings I1, through the medium of the friction washers 24, it will be noted that the tie rod 4 on the upper end of the leg I l passes through aligned openings in the socketforming portions I5 of the legs I4 and through an alignable opening 25 in the stem portions I6 of the bearings IT. The opposite ends of said tie clamping nuts 2'! and inner locking nuts 28. With this structure it is obvious that tightening of the clamping nuts 2! will cause the desired amount of friction to be exerted upon the drop arms I9 by the bearings I'I through the medium of the friction washers Z4. Tightening of the locking nuts 28 in the opposite direction will preserve said adjusted frictional relationship. This frictional engagement is highly desirable in moving of the drop arms I 9 from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 4, and to pre-- vent harsh impact between the drop arms I9 and the underlying tie rod 4. For the purpose of limiting forward swinging movements of the drop arms I 9 between the vertical and horizontal plane of the axis of swinging movements thereof, the bearings I! are formed to provide laterally offset lugs 29 which engage the drop arms I9 and prevent forward movement beyond the full line position of Fig. 4. By this means, accidental forward dropping movements of the arms I9, with the consequent depositing of the forward end portion of the flat piec A upon th floor X is precluded. The functions of this apparatus in its various adjusted positions is fully explained in said Patent 1,836,938, above referred to.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that my invention is capable of specific modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rack of the class described comprising a frame including a pair of spaced side frame members and tie rods connecting said side frame members, said frame members each having spaced upwardly projecting forward and rearward legs, a Windlass extending between the upper ends of said rear legs and journalled for rotation therein, said forward legs terminating below the plane of the rear legs and each thereof defining upwardly opening socket portions, a pair of opposed bearings having depending stem portions receivabl in said sockets, said stem portions and sockets having aligned apertures through which opposite ends of an adjacent one of said tie rods project whereby to removabiy .anchor said stems in said sockets, a pairof drop arms having laterally projecting trunnions at their inner ends receivable one each within said bearings for limited rotary movements on a common horizontal axis, inner and outer connecting .rods joining .re-

spectively theiinner and outerlend portions (of. said thereof between drop arms, friction washers interposed between said bearing and the adjacent side of each of said drop arms, and a clamping nut on one end of the tie rod passing through the upper ends of said forward legs and the stems on said bearing, adjustment of said clamping nut varying the frictional relationship between said bearings and drop arms through said friction washers.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said bearings are provided with laterally offset stop lugs engaging said drop arms whereby to positively limit forward swinging movements the vertical and horizontal plane of the axisof swinging movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,836,938 Sager Dec. 15, 1931 Foss July 20, 1937 

